Colon Cancer Symptoms
In early stages, cancers of the colon and rectum often don’t cause symptoms. And even if you have symptoms, they may be caused by something else, such as hemorrhoids or a stomach bug.
However, it’s important to talk with your doctor any time you have persistent or unexplained symptoms. This includes pain, blood in the stool or changes in how you poop.
Pain
Almost every person who has colon cancer experiences pain at some point. The pain from colon cancer can vary in severity depending on the location of the tumor and its stage of growth. Pain may also be accompanied by changes in your bowel habits, blood in the stool or rectal bleeding.
In the early stages of colon cancer, you may not have any symptoms at all. If you do experience pain or changes in your bowel movements, the first thing to do is see your doctor for a diagnosis.
Your doctor will likely order tests to check for colon cancer and determine the cause of your symptoms. One of the most common tests is a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is used to examine your large intestine and rectum. This procedure can help detect colon cancer and other health conditions, including polyps.
Cancer that has spread from the colon to nearby lymph nodes is often diagnosed with a biopsy of those lymph nodes. Your doctor will also take into account any symptoms you have when determining the stage of your colon cancer.
Pain from colon cancer usually occurs in the lower abdomen and can affect your back, legs or thighs. It can be a sharp pain or a dull ache and may get worse after you have been active. Pain from colon cancer can also affect the liver and bones if it has spread.
Some people have a harder time identifying colon cancer pain because it can be similar to other ailments, such as constipation or hemorrhoids. However, anyone who experiences pain or discomfort for a few weeks should seek medical attention. With more and more young people being diagnosed with colon cancer, it’s important to take any symptom seriously.
Diarrhea
Although it may not sound like an emergency, diarrhea associated with Colon cancer should never be ignored. Diarrhea is the passage of loose, watery stools several times a day that aren’t fully digested. In advanced stages of the cancer, the stools can become black and tarry. If you typically have bowel movements three or more times per day and suddenly experience this symptom, talk to your doctor right away.
Changes in the color, frequency and consistency of poop aren’t always cause for concern; they can be caused by other conditions as well. However, if you’re experiencing these symptoms for more than a few days or are at risk due to age or family history of colon cancer, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
A tumor in the colon can cause a condition called exudative diarrhea, which is caused by damage to the intestinal mucosa resulting in the release or oozing of mucus and blood into the stool. This can be the result of a cancerous tumor or other diseases and conditions that affect the colon, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, radiation enteropathy from treatment to the pelvic area or bacterial overgrowth.
Another type of colon cancer-related diarrhea is called radiation ileus, which occurs when the cancer spreads to the small intestine and causes inflammation. This can also be accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting. Neither of these types of diarrhea are an emergency; however, they’re a good reason to visit your healthcare provider, especially if you have a family history of colorectal cancer or a history of colon polyps or inflammation. The best way to prevent this type of cancer is through regular screening.
Blood in the stool
Oren Zarif colon cancer treatment
When a person has colon cancer, sometimes they may have blood in their stool. This can be very distressing for people and it is important that they see a doctor right away if they have this symptom. The doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of the bleeding and how far the cancer has progressed.
There are many things that can cause blood in the stool, but it is always worth telling a doctor if you have it. This is because it could be a sign of colon cancer, but it could also be something less serious such as hemorrhoids or an infection.
If you have bright red blood in your stools (poop) it is usually an indication that there is a problem somewhere inside the large intestine or rectum. This type of bleeding can also be caused by piles, inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease or from diverticulitis.
The condition that causes these conditions is often due to the cells in the colon lining growing and not dying when they should. Over time, this can lead to polyps which then grow into cancers. The cancers can then spread into the wall of the colon or into nearby lymph nodes and other organs such as the liver and lungs.
It is important to talk to your doctor about the symptoms that you are having, especially if they are persistent or ongoing. In addition, if you are over 45 and do not have a family history of colorectal cancer or certain inherited colon cancer syndromes then you should consider having a colonoscopy done regularly to catch any early signs of colon cancer.
Changes in bowel habits
Although poop is not a topic that anyone wants to talk about, it can provide clues to your health. If your bowel habits change or you notice unexplained aches and pains in the abdomen or rectum, it's important to see your doctor. These symptoms could be a sign of colon cancer.
Colon cancer is a type of bowel cancer that starts in the large intestine, also known as the colon or rectum. It's often found in the lower part of the digestive tract, where it forms polyps. Polyps are abnormal growths that can turn into cancer if they're not removed. Cancers that form in the colon or rectum don't always cause any symptoms at first, so they can be hard to detect. That's why regular screening is so important.
Some people with colon cancer experience a change in bowel habits before they begin to have symptoms. They may experience diarrhea, constipation or a feeling that their bowel isn't emptying all the way. Others may see blood in their stool or experience stomach aches, abdominal pain or cramps.
Bleeding in the colon or rectum can also be a sign of colon cancer. It may appear as bright red spots or darker, tarry stool. Sometimes, it may not be visible, but can be detected by a doctor with a simple blood test. Blood in the stool is also associated with anemia, which can cause fatigue and weakness.
Symptoms of colon cancer can also include difficulty breathing if the tumor spreads to the lungs. In the later stages of colon cancer, it can also lead to bone pain or a fever.
Weight loss
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the colon and rectum grow uncontrollably. Cancer cells may bleed into the stool, cause changes in bowel habits, and lead to weight loss. Cancer may also spread to other parts of the body. In the later stages, this can lead to bone pain and trouble breathing. Generally, the earlier colon cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. Regular screening tests, such as a colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, can help detect early colon cancer.
In its earliest stage, colon cancer doesn’t usually produce any symptoms. However, if the cancer progresses to later stages, it may cause pain in the abdomen, blood in the stool, and changes in bowel habits. It may also cause a loss of appetite and weight loss. These signs can be similar to those caused by other medical conditions, such as stomach problems or hemorrhoids.
Changes in bowel habits can be a sign of colon cancer because tumors and polyps can obstruct the colon. This can lead to constipation, diarrhea or a feeling that the colon doesn’t empty completely during a bowel movement. Blood in the stool is often a sign of colon cancer, but this can be caused by other conditions as well, including hemorrhoids or a hernia.
In some cases, colon cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones and lungs. In advanced colon cancer, this can cause pain in the joints and bones, and it may also make it harder to breathe. This is why it’s important to go for routine screenings and talk to your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms.
